Device for close-up work with cameras



10, 4 w. J. CLEMENTS 2,685,744

DEVICE FOR CLOSE-UP WORK WITH CAMERAS v Filed June 24, $952 125,2 (7 I*vs I f zveiziar L Mil/02 .Z'C/mmvd:

'F 5y PWMM Patented Aug. 10, 1954 DEVICE FOR CLOSE-UP WORK WITH CAMERASWilliam J. Clements, Hinsdalc, Il

assignor to Clements Mfg. 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of IllinoisApplication June 24, 1952, Serial No. 295,197

1 3 Claims.

This invention is directed to a novel for use with cameras.

It is object of this invention to provide a template for use withcameras which will accurately define the distance between the camera andits which provides a novel means for dete mining the field of thecamera.

Anothe .t of th s invention is the provision of a calmer "late w ieh issimple to construct or manufacture and also presents a rugged and sturdyconstruction.

Another object of this invention is to construct camera telflplate whichembodies a novel methed for defining the field embraced by a camera withwhich the template is used.

Another object of my invention is to provide a portable camera templatewhich may he handled and used with facility and which may beconvenientry packed in a carrying case.

Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of the ensuingspecification and claims.

Referring generally now to the drawings, Figure 1 represents anelevational view of my camera template as employed with a typical cameraand camera object.

Figure 2 is a plan View of the template shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an elevational View of another embodiment of templateemploying the same principles of construction shown in Figure 1.

Figure l is another elevational View or another embodiment of thetemplate shown in Figure 1 utilizing the same principles of constructionshown in. Figure 1.

With specific reference now to the drawings wherein like parts aredesignated by like numerals throughout, and referring the first in"tanceto Figure l, l designates a typical camera of conventio constructionsupported upon a tripod 2? hey g the usual supporting legs 5, and Thecamera 1 includes the usual frame in and lens ll). Designated at 6 is anobject, such as avase, which is being photographed by the camera 1 irepresents my novel template as used in defining the focal length of thelens used with the camera and the field taken by the lens of the camera.

In close worl: with a camera it is conventional practice to place thecamera at a distance from the object which is equal to the focal lengthof the particular lens used with the camera. When utilizing a camera forcloseup work, it is extremely important that the distance between thecamera and the object being reproduced by the camera be accuratelydetermined. At the same time it is highly important that thephotographer taking the picture of the object knows exactly what will beencompassed or enclosed in the field of the camera at that focal length.The template or template templates as shown and described herein providea means for both determining the focal length accurately while the sometime accurately defining the field.

The template l is 00:..31'1566. of a generally trian ar shaped unitarymember having dileg port ons The two leg porions of the device --t oneend in an i h an end surface I! adapted to be disposed adjacent the lenslb of the camera. A transverse reinforcing member it joins the two vntthe other ends of the legs, 1g ope ng between the egs and member ch oneo the leg portions 8 and 9 diverges Form the lot al of the template atan equal angularity.

The legs 5 and terminate at their other ends in a pair of co-planarsurfaces l3 and I4 disposed generally perp to the longitudinal axis A--Aof the template. The distance between the outer ends 55 and ill ofsurfaces l3 and i4 is s that it defines the verti al dimension Y f thefield of the earner The distance between the inner ends ll and is of thesurfaces I3 and M. is such that it defines the horizontal dimension ofthe field Le It will be readily understood dimension and horizontal.dimension is by way of example on i 0 say, the distances X and Y definetwo dimension. of the camera held. The dimensions whic the distances Xand Y represent depend upon whether the camera is disposed vertically asshown in Figure 1 or hori zo'otally. It will be apparent, therefore,that when camera is disposed horizontally, the longer distance Y willdefine the horizontal dimen or" the field ..hile the shorter distance Xwill define the vertical dimen ion of the field.

The focal of the particular lens used with the cam is represented by thedistance between end surface l and the surfaces l and measured p allelto A-A. When the surface ii bro-ugh adjacent to the camera lens, asshown in Figure 1, an object placed adiaea the end surlaces l3 and itwill thus he at a distance equal to the focal length of the lens awayfrom the lens.

Inwardly es; ing surfaces is posed generally parallel with the lorecessed openi provides 101 a of flexibility of t For example, aoleunder circumstances to have the side or t re object which is nearest thecamera at a distance somewhat less than the focal length while at thesame time having other portions of the object at a somewhat greaterdistance from the focal length. A camera lens will normally reproduce aclear image at a distance which is a small amount less than the focallength and also at a distance which is a small amount greater than thefocal length. The recessed opening then, provides a means for moving anobject within this range of distances, while continuing to employ thetemplate.

In Figures 3 and l, we have shown modifications of the template shown inFigure 1 which embody the same general principles of construction as thetemplate shown in l igure 1. In closeup work with cameras, such as isaccomplished in some instances by 35 mm. cameras, several lenses areemployed with each camera. Each of these lenses provides a differentfocal length for the camera and each will define a different field atthose focal lengths. In Figure 3 a template 2! is shown having legportions defining the dimensions of the field X and Y at a focal lengthF. In Figure 4 a template 22 is shown having leg portions defining thedimensions of the field X and Y" at a focal length F". Each template isused for a different lens and the plurality of templates may be employedby the photographer as a set having one template for each lens.

The use and operation of the templates are as follows:

Assuming that the camera is in position, the object 5 is first broughtinto the proximity of the camera lens. The template 9 is brought intoposition as shown in Figure 1 with the surface ii disposed adjacent tothe camera lens and with the axis AA of the template co-linear with theaxis of the lens. The object 6 is then brought into the proper focallength as defined by the distance between the end surfaces H and i3, Mof the template. The plane of the template is first disposed verticallyto define the vertical dimension Y of the field and is then rotatedthrough 96 into a generally horizontal position to define the horizontaldimension X of the field.

When the field has thus been determined, the object 6 may be movedvertically or horizontally to insure proper positioning of the object inthe camera field. Where desirable, the object 6 may be moved to adistance slightly less than the focal length of the lens used inaccordance with the individual desires of the photographer.

When it is desired to photograph an object at a smaller distance with alens having a smaller focal length, the individual templates 25 or 22may be employed. It will be apparent that an individual template isemployed for each different lens.

The templates as shown present an extremely sturdy construction and takeup a relatively small amount of space, thus facilitating packing in aphotographers case or the like. The templates serve to accurately definethe distance from the camera to the object and at the same time indicatepositively the field being photographed.

The template may be conveniently used in the field to photograph objectsof nature such as flowers. When so used, the template may be broughtinto position with the end surfaces i3 and id defining the object orfield photographed and the camera lens brought up into a position inalignment with the longitudinal axis of the template and at a distancefrom the object equal to the focal length as represented by the distanceF between the surfaces H and i3, I i.

If desired, suitable indicia may be inscribed on the apex H3 and memberii to indicate the longitudinal axis AA of the templates and to insurealignment of the axis of the camera lens, longitudinal axis of thetemplate, and center of the camera field.

Although I have shown an operative form of my invention, it will berecognized that many changes in the form, shape and arrangement of partscan be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and myshowing is, therefore, to be taken as, in a sense, diagrammatic, and notin any limiting sense, and the invention herein should limited only asdefined by the scope of the hereinafter appended claims. For example,where desired, the legs of the templates may be made of telescopingsections. and the transverse reinforcing member may be made oftelescoping sections in order to permit the use of one adjustabletemplate for a plurality of lenses.

I claim:

1. A template for use with cameras including a generally flat bodymember having diverging leg portions, said leg portions terminating atone end in an apex adapted to be disposed adjacent to camera lens andterminating at their other ends in spaced surfaces having outer andinner end portions, said otherend surfaces being formed and adapted todefine the horizontal and vertical dimensions of the field of a cameraby the distance between said outer end portions and the distance betweensaid inner end portions respectively, and the distance between the apexsurface and the other end portions of the legs being of a lengthconforming to the focal length of a camera lens.

2. A camera template including an elongated body portion of a lengthconforming to the focal length of a camera lens, said body portionincluding an end portion adapted to be disposed adjacent to a cameralens and an opposite end portion having spaced surfaces formed andadapted to define both the horizontal and vertical dimensions of thefield of the camera at the said focal length.

3. A camera template including a generally elongated body portion of alength conforming to the focal length of a camera lens with which acamera is to be used, said body including a surface at one end of thebody disposed transversely to the longitudinal axis of the body andadapted to be disposed adjacent to the camera lens, said body portionincluding an opposite end portion presenting a pair of spaced surfacesgenerally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the body, said endsurfaces having outer ends to present and define an outer dimension tsentransversely of the longitudinal conforming to one of the dimensions ofthe camera field, the end surfaces having inner ends presenting anddefining an inner dimension taken transversely of the longitudinal axisof the body conforming to another dimension of the field taken by thecamera.

References Cited. in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSNumber Name Date 82,917 Brooks Oct. 13, 18-68 2,470,635 Moss May 1'7,1949 2,495,975 Kelly Jan. 31, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date19,816 Australia Oct. 21, 1935

